Council fronts up for farmhouse duties

Gordon Johnston, current Director of Ziebell's Farmhouse Museum (Damjan Janevski) 298691_05

Whittlesea Council will regain the responsibility of managing Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum and Heritage Garden, after almost 30 years of care from the Friends of Westgarthtown.

Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum and Heritage Garden is a heritage listed arts and cultural facility located within the historic Westgarthtown Pioneer Precinct in Thomastown.

Council officers have been working closely with the Friends of Westgarthtown throughout the transition of management. It is proposed that the council will formally take over operations of the Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum and Heritage Gardens on 1 November.

Council administrator Christian Zahra said he was proud of all parties involved.

“This is a great example of collaboration… I really want to commend the way our team has collaborated with the Friends (of Westgarthtown),” he said.

“In 2020, the Friends approached us… they felt a change was and transition was appropriate and important.

“Ziebell’s is a much loved community asset with an incredibly rich history. It is a real treasure.”

Fellow administrator Peita Duncan expressed gratitude for the decades of work contributed by the Friends of Westgarthtown.

“Thank you so much for the 30 years of effort and work that you’ve put into this venue, and thank you for now trusting council to now take harrage of that,” she said.

The museum, on Gardenia Road, Thomastown is open to the public on Tuesdays and Sundays and offers a public exhibition and education program.

Gerald Lynch